On behalf of the Commonwealth Foundation, I express my sincere condolences to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and members of the Royal family, on the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
‘Prince Philip leaves behind a strong legacy of service that is an inspiration to us all.’
The Duke of Edinburgh was a stalwart supporter of the Commonwealth. He understood very well that its strength lies in the 2.4 billion citizens of the Commonwealth who, together with Member States, constitute the Commonwealth as a real family and as a powerful international actor. Prince Philip leaves behind a strong legacy of service that is an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed.
Ambassador Sudha Devi Vasudevan is Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation.
Who wants to know more about Covid-19 vaccinations?
All of us.
As citizens, we deserve information that has a bearing on our lives—we should know about national plans and progress, about virus variants and the price our governments are paying for jabs.
We need to know how our governments are allocating rescue and stimulus packages. Who’s paying, and who’s benefiting? Are we indeed saving jobs and mitigating poverty, as our governments claim?
In any society, only a small handful of actors can provide this information. Those who work in the news media are among them. Journalists do the important work of enabling us to hold governments to account for their promises. Thanks to them, we can understand the world around us as events unfold. But journalists rarely work without fear or favour, and sometimes their employers require them to give favour.
This is where international organisations (IGOs) come into the picture. It falls to bodies like the Commonwealth—and to UNESCO where I work—to help uphold the norms whereby journalists can work freely and safely.
Safety—freedom from physical or moral threats—is a basic prerequisite for carrying out the work of a journalist. Without that fundamental protection, the free flow of information is restricted and a citizen’s chance of understanding what is going on badly limited.
In too many places around the world, impunity for the range of crimes committed against journalists prevails, and a culture of silence and misinformation has taken hold.
In Commonwealth countries alone, 178 journalists were killed between 2006 and 2020. The impunity rate for the killings of journalists during that same time stands at 96%—which is notably higher than the already disgraceful global impunity rate of 87%.
‘In Commonwealth countries alone, 178 journalists were killed between 2006 and 2020.’
Journalists worldwide, including throughout the Commonwealth, are too often targeted by disinformation campaigns and the aggressive discourse of political leaders. Recent times have seen a surge in attacks against journalists covering protests, an increase in incidents of women journalists facing gender-specific threats and violence, and the use of Covid-19 by governments as a pretext to stifle legitimate dissent.
So, what role can IGOs such as the Commonwealth play in reversing these trends?
As a South African, I am personally aware of the positive difference that the Commonwealth has made in advancing norms governing freedom of expression and press freedom.
The landmark Harare Declaration, adopted by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1991, roundly condemned the apartheid government and its regime of censorship; ultimately, it hastened the establishment of democracy in my country. In that same year, the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press established a normative framework for freedom of expression in a post-Cold War world.
The Windhoek Declaration emerged out of a UNESCO-supported seminar that also led to the proclamation of World Press Freedom Day by the UN General Assembly in 1993. It was African journalists’ calls for greater press freedom that catalysed these landmark events.
Thirty years later in 2021, the global commemoration of World Press Freedom Day comes home to Windhoek (Namibia) on 1-3 May. Commonwealth organisations have a valuable role to play in joining the event and in marking this date.
In doing so, they will be riding the tide of international state-led initiatives addressing this issue. The formation of ‘Group[s] of Friends for the Safety of Journalists’ by Member States at the Headquarters of various intergovernmental organisations in Paris, New York, Geneva, Vienna and Strasbourg has virtually guaranteed that the conversation around Media Freedom is now ringing in the halls of major intergovernmental organisations and agencies.
‘Press freedom and journalists’ safety are vital to functioning democracies’
These state-led efforts present an opportunity to firmly reiterate the norm that press freedom and journalists’ safety are vital to functioning democracies.
In addition to defending and advancing basic principles of media freedom, IGOs also have a great deal to offer in terms of supporting the effective implementation of those norms, not least by urging their Member States to monitor and report on freedom of expression, access to information and journalists’ safety. There is a multitude of relevant platforms supporting this work*.
IGOs—including the Commonwealth—can also work with UNESCO in facilitating connections and building specialised knowledge among key actors, such as judicial operators and security forces. In this regard, a soon-to-be-launched multi-language online course for judges developed by UNESCO jointly with Oxford University could be of special interest to associations and networks of judges and legal professionals in Commonwealth countries.
The development of an informal light touch task force, between UNESCO and several other IGOs will enable us to coordinate these various efforts and ensure they feed into the agenda for 2022: the tenth anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
By highlighting the issue of media freedom in its Critical Conversation series, and by ensuring that is on the agenda of the forthcoming Commonwealth People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Foundation is making an important contribution to these collective efforts.
The global pandemic’s collision with the information age has shown that good journalism can be an issue of life and death: now is the time for intergovernmental organisations and their Member States to seize the mantle of media freedom. I’ve seen first-hand the difference they can make.
Guy Berger leads UNESCO’s work on the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
*The Sustainable Development Goals offer the opportunity of Voluntary National Reviews; there is the Universal Periodic Review process operated by the UN Human Rights Council; UNESCO’s Director-General annually calls on states to provide information on the judicial follow-up to the killing of journalists; An African Digital Platform has been recently launched, with UNESCO’s support, to foster reinforced monitoring on the safety of journalists. Commonwealth members, journalists, CSOs and other relevant stakeholders working in this region are encouraged to contribute to these opportunities.
Women’s rights and women-led organisations have called on Member States to take action on the Commonwealth’s Four Priorities on Gender Equality in light of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, they argue, has exacerbated gender inequalities the world over.
The call comes during the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the principal UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Civil society representatives revisited recommendations made during the 12WAMM Civil Society Roundtable — which took place prior to the pandemic in September 2019. The group agreed that many of their recommendations remain the same but are by now, in a post-Covid world, more pressing than ever.
Many countries have not addressed mental health law reform for a woeful number of years. In Nigeria, where I live, the ‘Lunacy Act’ is the central Federal law governing mental health. Its origins lie in the Lunacy Ordinance of 1916 which underwent only minimal reform in 1958; it is a legal framework that is effectively 100 years out-of-date.
The Lunacy Act applies federally, and across the vast majority of States. It does not once mention treatment and uses pejorative words like ‘lunatic’ and ‘idiot’. It also permits magistrates to order the detention of the mentally ill, including those who attempt suicide or engage in self-harm.
‘The twin forces of stigma and superstition strip those living with mental health problems of their dignity’
Without legal protections, the twin forces of stigma and superstition strip those living with mental health problems of their dignity. Access to essential services, including education, health, and employment, are denied. Mental illnesses are then construed as spiritual problems which result in sufferers being detained in so-called ‘spiritual healing homes’ and other mental health facilities.Recent reports by Human Rights Watch andothers indicate that shackling,chaining, starvation and flogging are rife.
Those who are driven to the edge of despair and attempt unsuccessfully to take their own life are shown little mercy. Attempted suicide is an offence in Nigeria under the Criminal and Penal Codes. When charges are brought against a person, time spent in prison and severe bail conditions are virtually guaranteed, even where magistrates are willing to discharge.
This lamentable situation points to a clear need for law reform. Nationwide legislation must be established to recognise and uphold the rights of persons with mental health conditions. I’ve been proud to provide technical support for a new Mental Health Bill which is currently being considered by the Nigerian National Assembly. But I am also aware that new legislation and the drafting process that precedes it, must be carefully designed if people living with mental health problems are to have their rights fully realised.
‘The Bill died after many years of advocacy simply because legislators didn’t demonstrate enough interest’
In this task, we can learn from other Commonwealth countries. The Seychelles stands as ashining example. The Government of the Seychelles, working closely with health professionals and advocates, undertook a careful process of reform that paid close attention to international human rights standards including the International Convention on Persons with Disabilities, to which Nigeria is also a party. The principles of dignity and quality of life were at the forefront. They ensured that persons living with mental health conditions were part of the law reform process and that their views were heard and understood.
A Mental Health Bill was presented in Nigeria in 2002, almost twenty years ago. The Bill died after many years of advocacy simply because legislators didn’t demonstrate enough interest. It is now time for them to take up the mantle of human rights and human dignity and ensure this new bill sees the light of day.
We hope you were among the hundreds of young people from 66 countries who connected live for Young Leaders Speak—the third event in our Critical Conversations series of online events.
Held in collaboration with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Commonwealth Youth Council, the event provided an opportunity for seven distinguished young leaders to reimagine the Commonwealth. They discussed shared colonial legacies of dominance and violence and—crucially—how the Commonwealth can build a more just and equitable future. If you missed the event, you can watch it here.
Our panellists want you to continue the conversation and, above all, to take action—and it’s their hope that the books, articles, and videos listed below will inspire you to do so.
Darrion Narrine, a social justice advocate from Trinidad and Tobago, recommended three books that he credits with deepening his understanding of race and race relations. As Darrion says, ‘racism and “othering” also has an economic benefit for some people. These books raise the consciousness around this.’ The first is Capitalism and Slavery written by the late Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Eric Williams. Williams looks at the economic factors which contributed to the end of slavery in the British Empire arguing, contrary to mainstream narratives, that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was based on economic necessity rather than any supposed moral awakening.
‘Is the Commonwealth living up to its aspirations and values?’
The second is Plantation Economy by George Beckford, which has contributed significantly to economic thought in the Caribbean. It examines issues of underdevelopment, the significance of plantations to developing economies, and the influence of European powers and the slave trade. The third book recommended by Darrion is Britain’s Black Debt by Sir Hilary Beckles. Beckles argues for reparations for the enslavement of Africans with a focus on the Caribbean, examining the movements that are advocating for reparations.
Kakembo Galabuzi, an environmental entrepreneur from Uganda, called for greater engagement from young people in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ‘It’s important to understand our role in Sustainable Development and [how] we shape our ideas and actions towards achieving the set goals.’
Kakembo also encouraged us to watch an interview by Simon Sinek on Millennials in the workplace; ‘I share this because it’s important to understand and reflect on our weaknesses and forge a way to do better. We are the future and the present of this planet, so we have no choice but to do better than those before us.’
‘If you’re reading this but don’t see yourself as a Young Leader, then you might be asking “how can I help?” Alicia Wallace has an answer’
Nondomiso Hlophe, a gender consultant from Eswatini who also joined the panel, agreed that it is vitally important to acknowledge history—but urged us to always keep the future in mind: ‘The one thing that I would like [people] to know and learn about, to re-read and critique—especially with youth and an equitable future in mind—is the Commonwealth Charter. Ask yourself: does this document truly reflect the past, present and future of the Commonwealth? Is the Commonwealth living up to its aspirations and values? And what can you do to live a life in line with the Charter?’
The Foundation’s Graduate Interns, who introduced Young Leaders Speak, also shared their recommendations.
Fisayo Eniolorunda suggested Black Skin, Whitehall:Race and the Foreign Office, 1945-2018. The article documents the history of race in the UK’s Foreign Office and is a useful source for discussions on race, inequality and identity in Britain today
Kevwe Edekovwere urged young leaders to read Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala, the popular UK historian and rapper. The book is part autobiographical and part commentary on the consequences of Britain’s colonial legacy
Nausheen Khan suggested reading Afua Hirsch’s book Brit-ish—a book that she feels is relevant to young diaspora communities who grapple with multiple identities throughout the world—and not just those living in the United Kingdom
Olivia Bourge draws inspiration from reading Amanda Gorman’s poems and watching her spoken word performances
Vivian Ngere recommended this article by Ashfaq Zaman. Zaman sees the Black Lives Matter movement as a turning point at which Britain can finally come to terms with its colonial past and build a better relationship with diaspora communities.
If you’re reading this but don’t see yourself as a Young Leader, then you might be asking ‘how can I help?’ Alicia Wallace, a movement builder from the Bahamas who moderated the conversation, has an answer: ‘Find ways to get others to support the work of young people working for equality and justice,’ she said. ‘Invite others to attend their events, share links to their work, recommend their services, or start a giving circle to make donations. Amplify their voices and send resources their way to help increase impact.’
What are your recommendations? Post them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #CriticalConversations.
The University of London has confirmed the membership of a Committee to conduct an inquiry into the future of Commonwealth Studies at the University.
The creation of the Committee, to be chaired by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former UK Foreign Secretary, was announced late last year following a consultation about the future of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University’s School of Advanced Study. The Committee includes among its members the Foundation’s Director-General Dr Anne T Gallagher AO.
Dr Gallagher said:
‘The Commonwealth brings together almost a third of humanity and, in our present uncertain, fractured world, it deserves nurturing and support.
‘It is an honour to join Sir Malcolm and colleagues on this committee as we consider how the University of London can best continue to support the cultivation of a critical understanding of the Commonwealth; its complicated legacy; and its potential to contribute to a future based on justice and equality.’
‘I am delighted that we have a Committee that could not be more experienced and committed to the welfare of the Commonwealth. We look forward to providing the University of London with our conclusions and recommendations on the future of Commonwealth Studies at the University.’
Committee Membership
Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Chair) – Former United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Lord Boateng – Former British High Commissioner to South Africa
Dr Anne Therese Gallagher, AO – Director-General: Commonwealth Foundation
Dr Nabeel Goheer – Assistant Secretary-General, The Commonwealth Secretariat
Professor Asha Kanwar- President and CEO: Commonwealth of Learning
Mr Michael Kirby AC CMG – Former Justice of the High Court of Australia
Lord Luce – Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham
Dr Joanna Newman – Chief Executive and Secretary-General: The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Sir Ronald Sanders – Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States
Mr Stephen Twigg – Secretary-General: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
Committee Objectives
The Committee will have three key objectives:
To consider future provision at the University of London for Commonwealth Studies in terms of focus, purpose, structure and functions
To recommend partnerships to support scholarship in this area and ensure its relevance and impact;
To identify potentially viable sources of sustainable funding beyond the University and short-term research grants.
Announcing the establishment of a Committee in December, Professor Wendy Thomson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London said:
‘Over the last two months, we’ve met with a range of stakeholders with Commonwealth affiliations who have shown a renewed interest in the future of the Institute and a commitment to supporting the study of the modern Commonwealth at the University. Sir Malcolm and the Committee will be able to explore a range of new and exciting partnerships.’
The Committee will invite submissions from interested organisations and individuals. These can be submitted directly to the Committee via its secretary, Dr Conor Wyer: conor.wyer@sas.ac.uk. The Committee hopes to conclude its work by the end of June of this year.
In collaboration with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Commonwealth Young Council, the Commonwealth Foundation’s third Critical Conversation—with Darrion Narine, Kavindya Thennakoon, Emmanuelle Andrews, and Kakembo Galabuzi Brian along with pop-up speakers Lance Copegog and Nondumiso Hlophe—centred the perspectives and needs of young people in the Commonwealth. All active in the Commonwealth space, the speakers were both critical of the existing structure and optimistic about our collective ability to build a more just, equitable future.
At the start, it was important to acknowledge the past, probing Kavindya’s decision to write an open letter to Commonwealth institutions challenging them to acknowledge and speak about the shared colonial legacy of dominance, violence, and atrocity. The speakers resisted the appeal of reform, instead focussing on the need to completely reimagine the systems we know. We cannot expect systems built to oppress and subjugate to be simply repurposed for equality and justice. We have to start again. Young people need to be at the forefront, providing the imagination and innovation required to build anew.
‘Recognising the expertise of young people and the value of their perspectives is critical to the development of a better Commonwealth’
As a queer Black feminist from the Caribbean, deeply interested in collaborative future-making, moderating this conversation was both a pleasure and confirmation that imagination is a tool for social justice. My work has primarily focussed on women’s and LGBTQ+ people’s rights with emphasis on expanding the understanding of gender, gender-based violence, and feminist policymaking. One of the most difficult aspects of this work is convincing people that we can create something new. My participation in regional and international networks has shown me that cross-regional collaboration, idea sharing, and skill trading are incredibly valuable and among the easiest ways to learn to think differently. Learning what others are doing often prompts more bold, interesting ideas and the confidence that a different world is possible. For me, Young Leaders Speak was about finding paths to create the Commonwealth we want.
Not only did the speakers have the opportunity to connect, talk about important issues, and raise their profiles, but also to participate in an exercise of going beyond representation. The event itself was not the intended outcome. The Commonwealth Foundation focussed on giving young people space to set a new agenda and make demands of Commonwealth institutions. Young Leaders Speak shed light on the challenges young leaders face and told people in positions of power what they need to change. This is the kind of conversation that is important to me—participants choosing the direction and issuing challenges to the people and institutions with the resources and power to take them on.
A theme that continually came up was the tokenism young people experience, being invited to spaces as ‘the young person’ rather than having their specific areas of expertise highlighted and contributions valued. Kavindya said, ‘We go into a panel[…] and our name is just “young person,” and that completely erases the years of [experience] that we have.’ Recognising the expertise of young people and the value of their perspectives is critical to the development of a better Commonwealth. In our conversation, the demands of young people were made clear. They reject tokenism and generic representation and demand strategic, radical inclusion that focusses on their expertise, skills, and interests and how they contribute to the space. Young people are experts in specific areas because of their commitment and that must be acknowledged beyond opportunities to attend occasional meetings.
‘Commonwealth institutions must be committed to spending money on high-impact programmes and activities. Young people need to be involved in financial decision-making processes.’
Darrion pointed to the need for intergenerational dialogue. Many of the issues we face today are not new. Some people have been working to address them for years and they have gained knowledge through their experience. They can look back and determine which strategies did or did not work and, combined with the ideas that young people already have, contribute to the development of new approaches. Kakembo added that it is important for us all to be able to offer differing opinions, then work together to find common ground. Both Darrion and Kakembo emphasised the importance of listening. It is critical for young people while positioning themselves as leaders and experts in their fields, to commit themselves to continuous learning, consultation, and openness to new information and ideas. In turn, older generations need to be willing to share information, offer insights, and support the work young people are doing. Forming strong relationships across generations is key to moving toward the future we all want.
While opportunities to physically convene can be beneficial, particularly for advocacy, young people are critical of the use of limited funds for travel, accommodation, and venues for large conferences. It is not enough to be transparent in spending. Commonwealth institutions must be committed to spending money on high-impact programmes and activities. Young people need to be involved in financial decision-making processes. There are often more cost-effective, innovative ways to connect people, host discussions, and ensure clear outcomes. By involving young people in planning processes and budget discussions, new methods can be created, tested, and put to use, allowing more funds to be dedicated to substantive work.
Young people want to see real change resulting from high-level activities. Kakembo pointed to the waste of resources and the need to redirect them to areas of greater impact. It has been repeatedly noted that Commonwealth-wide meetings have been useful for advocacy, technical discussions, development of policies, and commitments, but they have not automatically resulted in change on-the-ground. For that reason, young people demand higher investments in implementation, follow-up, and impact assessments. Commonwealth institutions need to hold governments accountable—insisting that they follow through on commitments—and support young advocates in the long-term work of agitating for implementation.
This vision for the future of the Commonwealth is not at all far-fetched. It requires significant changes to the way we are accustomed to thinking and working. It is not enough to checkboxes or use inclusive language. Speakers envisioned a discrimination-free, queer and feminist future, where racial and gender justice are a reality. They said that to get there, they need the agency to know, state, and contribute to creating what they want.
In other words, the people being impacted today need to be involved in the design of tomorrow. Emmanuelle prompted us to start with radical imagination. She asked, ‘What do we want our world to be?’ Creating an equitable, just future is not about working within existing systems, but making demands first, and having systems built around the desired outcomes. Young Leaders Speak challenged us to think beyond what we know. We have to dare to envision the world we want. Commonwealth institutions have been called upon to decentralise power, recognise young people’s expertise, direct funding to high-impact activities, and dedicate resources to follow-up on commitments. As for young people, we have to activate our imaginations. The future is being created every day.
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The festive season is upon us—and as this extraordinary year draws to a close—I extend my warmest wishes to the Member States and the People of our Commonwealth. This is a time for family, for celebration. It is a time for us to stop and reflect on the many blessings of life and living.
But for many, this time will be tinged with sadness. Too many of our human family are experiencing hardship and loss; too many of us are grieving separation from loved ones. Too many of us know that the road ahead is hard and lonely.
We will get through this, of course. But in the meantime, let us resolve to keep our eyes and our hearts open: to be watchful for the times where a kind deed, a helping hand, a gentle word, can make someone else’s suffering a little less. Perhaps that is the best way we can celebrate the festive season this year.
‘It is the values which lie at the heart of our beloved organisation—human rights, democracy, justice and equality—that must stay front and centre.’
Here at the Commonwealth Foundation, we have strived to adapt our work to this changing world. A special grants call was launched in September, focussed on supporting civil society efforts to recover and rebuild from the pandemic. Funding was approved for sixteen projects across the Commonwealth and implementation will begin within weeks.
Creativity has flourished during this difficult year and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is no exception. Entries for the 2021 prize closed a few months ago and our team of readers is now well into the process of reviewing almost 6500 stories—a record number of entries!
Another innovation of 2020 was the launch of a series of online events: People of the Commonwealth: Critical Conversations. This year has made clear to us all that the people of our Commonwealth have something to say and deserve to be heard. We are thrilled that over 15,000 people signed up the attend the three events held so far. I encourage you to join this growing community of fellow Commonwealth citizens by signing up the Critical Conversationsmailing list, where we will keep you updated on the exciting conversations due to be held in 2021 in the lead-up to the Commonwealth People’s Forum in June.
‘Across our Commonwealth, it is civil society groups that are fighting for accountability and transparency’
2020 will soon be a memory. But the threats to our common future that have come to the fore this year: from pandemic disease to climate change, from inequality to injustice, are not going away. As we move forward it is essential to acknowledge that governments and business cannot even begin to address these challenges without the direct and substantive involvement of civil society. Across our Commonwealth, it is civil society groups that are fighting for accountability and transparency; that are on the front lines of service delivery; that are ensuring the people are helping to shape the policies and decisions that affect their lives. The Foundation exists to support this vital work – to nurture the growth of vibrant and free civil societies across our Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth stands tall as a symbol of shared humanity. But it can be much more. As we stand at this crossroads, it is the values which lie at the heart of our beloved organisation—human rights, democracy, justice and equality—that must stay front and centre. It is those values that must guide us into a brighter future.
Dr Anne T. Gallagher AO is Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation.
Following approval by Commonwealth Heads of Government last week, Dato’ Sudha Devi K.R. Vasudevan has been announced as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth’s agency for civil society.
The Chair of the Foundation is a distinguished private citizen of a Commonwealth country appointed by Heads of Government. As Chair, Dato’ Sudha will lead Board meetings which govern the Foundation and support its future direction. She succeeds His Excellency Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing, a Mauritian National, who has served with distinction since 2016.
The Commonwealth Foundation is one of the Commonwealth’s three intergovernmental agencies with a mandate to support Commonwealth civil society and, through that work, to advance the interests of the Commonwealth’s 2.4 billion citizens.
The Foundation delivers an annual grants programme which supports civil society to engage with governments to advance participatory governance, democracy and human rights. It also administers a creative programme that aims to showcase Commonwealth culture from writing to filmmaking, including through the widely acclaimed Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Through a range of other initiatives, from the Commonwealth People’s Forum to the Critical Conversations online event series, the Foundation works to amplify the voices of the People of the Commonwealth, helping them participate in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives.
Dato’ Sudha brings extensive leadership experience to the role. She recently served as Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Australia and, before that, was Ambassador of Malaysia to the Federative Republic of Brazil. Her other diplomatic postings have included Germany, Singapore and Switzerland. Throughout her career, she has held various positions within the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs including Director-General of the Department of Policy Planning and Coordination, Undersecretary for the East Asia Division and Deputy Director-General for the ASEAN Malaysia National Secretariat.
Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, Dr Anne T. Gallagher AO, said:
‘I am thrilled to welcome Dato’ Sudha to the Commonwealth Foundation. Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the international community as we strive to help our countries and communities recover and rebuild from the shocks of the past year.
‘Civil society engagement with governments will be essential for progress on this and many other fronts. The Foundation’s Governors, which Dato’ Suhda will lead, are critical to ensuring a Commonwealth that is truly of—and for—its people.’
The outgoing Chair of the Board of Governors, Ambassador Shree Baboo Chekitan Servansing, who has come to the end of his two-year term, said of the appointment:
‘I would like to congratulate Dato’ Sudha on her appointment as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation. I have no doubt that her wide experience and deep involvement in diplomacy will help to steer the Foundation to the next, exciting stage of its development.’
The Foundation welcomes Dato’ Sudha Devi’s historic appointment as Chair of our Board. Her wealth of experience as a high-level diplomat will prove invaluable as we continue to promote the interests of the People of the #Commonwealth in 2021 and beyond. https://t.co/X3TtwXaE50
For further information about the Commonwealth Foundation, further comments, or photo requests, please contact Leo Kiss, Communications Officer, on l.kiss@commonwealth.int.
Notes
Annual priorities of the Commonwealth Foundation are determined by a Board of Governors, comprising representatives of Commonwealth governments and High Commissioners based in London, civil society representatives, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The Chair of the Foundation is a distinguished private citizen of a Commonwealth country appointed by Heads of Government.
The creation of the modern Commonwealth is one of the most curious and extraordinary developments in world affairs since the end of the Second World War. The British Empire comprised a third of the globe: the biggest empire in history where famously ‘the sun never set’.
Colonialism had been brutal, crippling, humiliating and deeply unwelcome to many of the people who lived under it. The early and mid-twentieth century saw many movements that argued strongly for independence and with it the end of British rule. Almost until the end, this was resisted by Britain, sometimes violently. The fall of Britain’s Indian Empire, and with it the creation of the independent states of India and Pakistan in August 1947, was a momentous occasion. Undivided India was the most important possession in the British Empire and its loss signalled the beginning of the end.
After years of deep colonialism that inflicted subservience and deprivation on so many people, and where countless men and women had fought for freedom, why would a country like India join an organisation like the Commonwealth, which was indelibly tied to the empire that caused its subjugation?
‘In Nehru’s pragmatic view, a new state like India needed allies and international influence in its post-independence existence’
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was a strong believer in internationalism. But the British Commonwealth of Nations, as it was known at the time, was anything but international: an exclusive group comprised of the ‘old Dominions’: countries like Australia, Canada and South Africa, that were led and dominated by white settler communities. In fact, before Nehru and his Pakistani counterpart joined in 1947 there were no non-white Prime Ministers in the group. But Nehru believed that the Commonwealth could be a force for good. His idealism inspired him to see the Commonwealth as something that could help humanity come together.
In Nehru’s pragmatic view, a new state like India needed allies and international influence in its post-independence existence. After the devastations and divisions of the Second World War and the late colonial years, in particular, Nehru believed the Commonwealth could bring to the world ‘a touch of healing’. Several leaders from across the old Commonwealth were deeply apprehensive about India’s inclusion due to racial and political reasons, but eventually, the advantages were seen. The freedom fighters voluntarily joined the coloniser in what was then, something utterly new.
‘The freedom fighters voluntarily joined the coloniser in what was then, something utterly new’
India’s powerful example would soon be followed by states from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific, creating a unique modern organisation built from the ruins of empire, but enhanced by the principles of equality and freedom among former colonial peoples. In London in 1949 the eclectic mix of States declared themselves to be ‘united as free and equal members of the Commonwealth of Nations, freely co-operating in the pursuit of peace, liberty and progress’. No longer a white man’s club, the Commonwealth in those early days, recognised the need to adapt to the new circumstances or face extinction.
Taking the Commonwealth’s story to the present day, the ideals that surrounded the inclusion of India have not always been lived up to. More than 70 years after that idealist moment, the Commonwealth finds itself in very different circumstances. Its relevance is widely doubted. Its political powers are supine. Its presence is routinely ignored. In fact, there are near-constant calls for the Commonwealth to be wound up due to both perceived and real failures.
It is, however, premature to pen the Commonwealth’s obituary. Making a difference does not always mean generating headlines. The Commonwealth’s strengths have been in education, practical training, sport, and sharing expertise on everything from agriculture to law. These attributes are enhanced by the wealth of experience and the variety of cases within the Commonwealth that are underwritten by a common history.
‘Such a scheme would see the exchange of ideas, the meeting of souls, the forging of partnerships and collective ambitions for the future’
In order to revitalise interest and relevance in the Commonwealth, the focus must be on the fact that one in three young people age 15-29 on this planet live in the Commonwealth. The future is theirs. In an uncertain world, the Commonwealth can help this group realise its potential. Substantial investment and pathways must be established to foster opportunities for the young.
The UK and other wealthy members still provide dedicated scholarships for students to study and train in their countries. But these important bonds of friendship and connection are woefully limited, while a key institution is under serious threat of closure: the respected Institute of Commonwealth Studies founded in London in 1949.
A new Commonwealth education scheme needs to be established: a scheme that would not only support bursaries but also encourage the Commonwealth’s young people to think imaginatively. Like Europe’s Erasmus education exchange programme, the Commonwealth could create a scheme to answer the needs of its own youth. A Commonwealth-wide scheme, named after Nehru who himself benefitted from studying abroad and whose ideals are in harmony with the idea, would encourage students to not only study in each other’s countries but also to engage culturally, socially, athletically and professionally.
The scheme would also demonstrate that the Commonwealth is more than just London and foster appreciation of the matchless nexus the Commonwealth creates—drawing together places and peoples from Johannesburg to Jaipur and beyond. Such a scheme would see the exchange of ideas, the meeting of souls, the forging of partnerships and collective ambitions for the future and would have the potential to reinvigorate the Commonwealth and change the world for the better in subtle, but worthwhile ways.
At the very least it is worth remembering, as the Historian Anthony Low put it, the Commonwealth ‘provides the readiest means available to use for orienting ourselves sensibly to the most of our fellow humans’. It is time for the Commonwealth to engage in pragmatic idealism once more.
Dr Harshan Kumarasingham is a Senior Lecturer in British Politics at the University of Edinburgh.
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